The PES in action 2007-2009

Activity Report of the Party of European Socialists

Adopted by the 8 th PES Congress

Introduction

The 7 th PES Congress, held in Porto 7 & 8 December 2006, confirmed and strengthened the new direction the Party of European Socialists was engaged in since the 2004 Congress: building a strong PES, more political, more influential, more visible and more democratic. was reelected President with that mandate. The Presidency also reelected Philip Cordery as Secretary General and Ruairi Quinn as Treasurer.

These 3 years have been an important step for the development of PES. For the 1 st time, the ambition was to prepare the European elections as a true European party.

Instead of a Manifesto discussed by a few representatives, we chose the option of having a real bottom-up process in order to integrate in our programme the views of our parties, our members and our voters. For this, the PES launched a broad consultation in the year 2007 and received many contributions from within our member parties but also from many progressive stakeholders. These contributions constituted the basis of our manifesto and enabled our parties and activists to feel ownership in the Manifesto which was finally adopted in our 2008 Madrid Council in the presence of our Leaders and Prime Ministers.

Our 2009 European campaign was based on this Manifesto and on strong common campaign elements, thus showing that we were a united political family with a common vision, a common programme, capable with a new majority in the of taking Europe in a new direction. People want change. The campaign took place in the midst of one of the deepest financial, economic and social crisis. The neo-liberal system was failing and we, social-democrats and socialists in Europe had an alternative programme to bring this change to the citizens with a strong recovery plan and proposals to regulate financial markets in order to avoid new crises.

The PES has acted constantly in these three years to renew our policies, modernize our practices and act as a strong united political family, as it is described in this report. We have influenced the agenda of the as much as possible in a context of conservative majorities in all EU institutions. We have increased our visibility in the European Union and in the member states, campaigning together and developing our strong network of PES activists. We have developed an unprecedented role for European political parties which are becoming full-fledged actors of European politics.

Nevertheless, despite this unprecedented preparation, our political family did not win the European elections, nor is it winning national elections, despite encouraging signals like in , , Portugal, Slovenia or Norway. We have evaluated these results in an open and frank way and have concluded on the necessity of launching a thorough reflection on how to renew social-democracy, keeping our values but modernizing our policies in order to become again the attractive political force that can represent a hope for the citizens. We have also concluded on the need to continue strengthening the PES and acting more together, increasing our visibility as a united European political family.

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A. Our political agenda : building a common Manifesto

1. Priorities for the European agenda

2007-2009 saw the PES revitalize its efforts to influence and shape the European agenda through renewed partnership between PES member parties and organisations, PES governments, and stakeholders supportive of social democratic objectives. The PES adopted a three-pronged strategy to consolidate the PES’ political agenda on political priorities of importance to Europe’s people; to increase the influence of the PES; and to strengthen the visibility of the PES. Its five priority themes were New Social Europe; EU political reform; energy and environment; economic governance and reform; and Europe in the world.

In 2007 and 2008, the PES set policy priorities to guide its political work. In 2007, these were: • The introduction of a common European energy policy, whose goal should be to promote sustainable development, particularly through a renewed push for greater energy efficiency and renewable energies, including the achievement of the EU’s climate change targets for 2012 and beyond. • Delivering excellence and inclusiveness in education and training to become a key priority for the European Union through fostering closer cooperation with Member States towards a progressive reform of education and training systems and adopting a European reference framework for key competences. • The evaluation of towards the 2010 childcare targets and the intensification of EU efforts towards their achievement by 2010, including the systematic assessment of national childcare strategies, the fostering of best practice and considering EU support to stimulate childcare investments. • Appropriate legal frameworks for services of general interest in the European Union, respecting the principle of ; • The introduction of an EU strategy for pursuing decent work in the external policies of the European Union.

In defining its 2008 policy priorities, PES leaders considered that “the way for the European Union from now until the European elections of June 2009 lies in the pursuit of a new progressive, programme for social, environmental and economic reform. In this context, it will be vital to agree on a new treaty in order to achieve our goal of making the European Union more democratic, social, open, transparent, and efficient.” PES leaders therefore defined six priorities: • The European Union should decide on all appropriate measures to establish full transparency, disclosure and accountability – particularly in relation to hedge and private equity funds - in the financial markets. The aim should be to ensure the protection of workers’ rights, collective bargaining, and related social objectives, in accordance with the EU’s Lisbon goals and the principles set out in the New Social Europe, to ensure the future of Europe’s welfare states. An efficient and transparent financial market, including effective financing of long-term investments, is fundamental to our sustainable European companies and their workforces. The EU should also lead calls for the establishment of an international taskforce to examine this question and make all relevant recommendations. • The European Union and its Member States should take the global lead in international negotiations on a post-2012 Kyoto framework, acting as a single voice to achieve a target of 30% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. 3

• The ’s policy guidelines should be reviewed to recognise: the use of income policies to reduce income inequalities, in order to distribute better the fruits of growth; the benefits of simultaneous and coordinated investments in Lisbon objectives across the EU; the fight against climate change; the fight against delocalization and social dumping; the objective of full and high quality employment, particularly for young people and women, notably through the elimination of gender inequalities; the need for territorial cohesion; the need to create a system of lifelong learning accessible to all, including pre-school education; the objective of 3% GDP for R&D. • The revision of the Internal Market Strategy should have as a primary objective to improve the benefits of the internal market for Europe’s consumers, ensuring access and affordability in relation to public goods such as energy, and to ensure that the completion of the Internal Market takes place in full respect of the European social model, notably with regards to public services and the public interest. • The European Union should agree on a sustainable and effective migration policy as it has a huge responsibility in ensuring the social, economic, cultural and political integration of migrants, as well as in combating human trafficking and the exploitation of migrants, in order to achieve social cohesion and economic progress. • The European Union should agree on a review of the EU budget – including all policies on which the budget is spent - on the basis of the political ambition to build a New Social Europe, strengthening Europe’s member states in a mutually-reinforcing dynamic of social justice, sustainable economic development, fighting global threats including climate change and achieving the global objective of sustainable development and decent work for all.

The PES therefore pursued clearly defined political and policy objectives during this period, coordinating PES members in the EU institutions, setting out clear policy statements and mobilising PES actors and stakeholders in common campaigning in order to influence European decision-making. In order to monitor and disseminate developments in the European policy agenda as well as the PES’ own achievements, the PES began a monthly EU policy brief.

2. EU political reform

The PES strongly supported the resolution of the institutional crisis opened up by the French and Dutch “No” votes on the European constitutional treaty. On 24 th March 2007, PES leaders had celebrated the 50th anniversary of the , declaring that if Europe was to tackle its challenges in the 21 st century “we cannot do it without a better treaty, without agreement on the outstanding constitutional and institutional issues. We believe that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights offers a new connection between the citizen and Europe. The PES, together with our national parties and governments, will strive to promote the institutional changes needed in the European treaties as a matter of urgency.” It was the Portuguese socialist government, led by Prime Minister José Sócrates, as holder of the Presidency of the European Union in the latter half of 2007 that successfully concluded negotiations of the new Lisbon Treaty in October 2007, following a meeting of PES Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers.

The Hungarian socialist government, led by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurscany, then went on to become the first government to ratify the Lisbon treaty. Following the Irish “No” vote to the Lisbon treaty, PES leaders remained firm in their support for ratification, stating in June 2008: “We respect the result of the recent referendum in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty. This is not a “no” to Europe. But it reflects a need for Europe to deal in a more focused way on people’s real concerns. We must tackle the feeling of uncertainty amongst 4

people and families. […] We firmly believe that the ratification process should continue so that all 27 Member States can pronounce themselves on the Lisbon treaty. On that basis we need to reach a political agreement on Europe’s future in order to move forward in tackling common challenges.”

The PES went on to campaign with the Irish in order to secure a Yes vote – on the basis of new guarantees on issues of concern to Ireland - to complete ratification of the Lisbon treaty.

3. Financial and economic crisis

The PES President instigated a new strand of PES work on financial markets in 2006 before the advent of the current financial crisis. This focused particularly on the shadow banking sector, whose unsustainable activities operated in tandem with those of the banking sector. In April 2007, the PES President published a report with PES Group colleague MEP, a report “Hedge and Private Equity Funds – a critical analysis”.

Thus, in June 2007 on PES leaders made their number one priority: “the European Union should decide on all appropriate measures to establish full transparency, disclosure and accountability – particularly in relation to hedge and private equity funds - in the financial markets. The aim should be to ensure the protection of workers’ rights, collective bargaining, and related social objectives, in accordance with the EU’s Lisbon goals and the principles set out in the New Social Europe, to ensure the future of Europe’s welfare states. An efficient and transparent financial market, including effective financing of long- term investments, is fundamental to our sustainable European companies and their workforces. The EU should also lead calls for the establishment of an international taskforce to examine this question and make all relevant recommendations.” Just a few weeks after this statement, the first serious turmoil began to be felt in the financial markets, following first difficulties in the US sub-prime mortgage market.

The PES Council in Porto adopted a first political declaration on the issue in December 2007 - “Social market economy comes first” – which stated: “The PES believes that the lack of transparency and disclosure, the risks to security and financial stability, the protection of public services and utilities and corporate social responsibility, – let alone the debt burden and job losses all too often imposed on companies taken over through leveraged buy outs, and the tax avoidance of fund managers - are all serious questions relating to the behaviour, and regulation, of private equity and hedge funds.”

The PES President led political efforts for the European Union to bring forward legislation of the shadow banking sector through an own-initiative report in the European Parliament, calling for all financial actors to be covered by proper regulation and supervision. This has now resulted in draft legislation on Alternative Investment Fund Managers, which is currently in the decision-making process.

At government level, PES governments led the EU’s efforts to prevent the meltdown of the financial system: Prime Minister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero requested the first ever heads of state and government meeting, convened in October 2008, at which it was Prime Minister who provided a blueprint for rescuing the banking system.

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As the financial crisis unfolded, the PES adopted new principles for regulation and supervision at the PES Presidency of 16 th October 2008 and then convened an extraordinary Leaders’ meeting to adopt “An Urgent European Plan of Action”. This included an Action Plan for Growth, Jobs and social policies to counteract the recession and an action plan for regulatory reform of financial markets. The leaders called for a real reform of Bretton Woods and a global regulatory framework for the financial markets through the establishment of a new World Financial Organization (WFO). Regulatory reform should have the following features: • “No free ride any more – either for hedge funds, private equity or investment banks. New regulation must cover all financial players. • We insist on a new strong standard of transparency and disclosure for all financial players. • A European supervision, to cope with the cross-border financial market players, starting with a mandatory link between national authorities. • Fair and correct ratings of all products. A European credit rating agency would be an essential contribution. • An end to irresponsible, excessive borrowing and untransparent debt packages. We insist on new rules to ensure strong capital reserves for all financial institutions that deal with loans and debt. • Responsibility and risk must be reconnected and speculative, incremental short-selling, that exacerbates the crisis, must be banned. • Greed and conflicts of interest should be tackled. We demand limits on executive pay and remuneration, and mechanisms to ensure that earnings reflect losses as well as profits and a fair taxation must be realised. • The same rules of transparency should apply to sovereign wealth funds as to the rest of the financial markets. • We must protect workers’ interests by ensuring that employees are informed and consulted during all takeovers, including leveraged buy outs, and by making information available on investments made by pension funds. • We must resolutely fight tax evasion and eliminate International tax havens.”

At the same time, the PES began to work on its proposals for a stronger European recovery plan, through its internal structures and informal networking of PES government economic sherpas. PES leaders adopted on 19 th March 2009 their proposal for a strengthened European Economy Recovery Plan based on a 7-point strategy, with concrete proposals on: • More investments • More credit facilities • A Pact for Employment • A Social Progress Pact • Economic solidarity • Better regulation of the financial markets • Global action for a global new deal

4. New social Europe

This political mandate saw several challenges to Social Europe, for example European Court of Justice judgments in the cases of Laval-Vaxholm and Rüffert and wishes to express its deep concern. Important European legislation has been on the agenda of the European institutions, such as the service directive, the working time directive and European Works Councils. 6

The PES worked notably with the PES Group and the European trade union Confederation to campaign for positive changes to uphold its vision of Social Europe. The PES set out its serious concerns regarding the worrying flaws in Community law that were undermining the application of fundamental workers’ rights. The PES Presidency of 10 th April 2008 called for “the to review all relevant Community law, notably the Posting of Workers Directive, and propose all necessary changes, in order to ensure that national, regional and local systems of collective bargaining are upheld within the European Union.”

The PES also continued to push, notably in partnership with the PES Group, for a European framework on public services. The PES Lisbon Network also continued to work on the shaping of a more social and environmental Lisbon strategy, a positive and progressive reform of the European budget, as well as shaping the EU’s Internal Market Strategy to take account of Europe’s social dimension. A number of discussion and working documents on specific issues of a New Social Europe were developed with the help of the Social Europe Network, for example on a social progress and employment pact, on the future of the Lisbon Strategy and on an entry strategy into the labour market. Very regular and well attended meetings of the social ministers and of their advisers helped influencing the outcome of the social ministers’ council and strengthen our positions. During such a meeting on 30.11.2009, a common declaration by the social democratic and socialist employment and social ministers was adopted, which had a considerably impact on the debates inside of the Council.

5. Climate change and energy

The PES focused its political work on promoting a common European energy and climate policy.

The PES supported the negotiation of a global climate deal as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The PES Council in Sofia adopted a political declaration calling for future action to combat climate change to include at least seven key elements: • A global long-term goal of keeping the rise in average global temperatures below 2°C; • concrete, binding intermediate targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions in all industrialised countries and for the limitation of CO2 emission increases in emerging economies in line with a reduction of global CO2 emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to the 1990 level; • effective global, regional and national policies for an adequate pricing of carbon in the framework of a truly relevant international emissions trading system; • national, regional and global deployment of clean technologies on a massive scale, first and foremost in the production and use of energy in all its forms. This will require new policies and financial support mechanisms to spur investment in research, development and innovation, not least in Europe, as well as a global partnership to accelerate and finance necessary technology transfers to developing economies; • a new global partnership against poverty, reflecting the new challenges to the trade regime, to development policy and to the financing of development posed by the impacts of climate change in poorer countries and the rising costs of necessary adaptation and mitigation policies; • a new environmental approach for European Union Association Agreements; • strengthened mechanisms for adaptation, with special attention to water resources.

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The PES adopted their input into the EU’s preparations of a new energy strategy on 28 th February 2007, calling for the EU to: • Tackle climate change and energy policy in an ambitious and comprehensive way; • Recognise the massive growth potential of a future energy-efficient economy; • Agree on an EU commitment to achieve at least 30% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2020; compared to 1990; • Acknowledge the imperative of achieving a reduction of global GHG emissions by up to 50% until 2050, implying reductions in industrialised countries of 60-80%; • Adopt an overall 20% renewable energy target by 2020; • Opt for a clearer separation of energy production from energy distribution; • Make the EU Action Plan on Energy Efficiency a central feature of the energy package, including its target of to save at least 20% of its current energy use until 2020 • Make a clear commitment to eliminating energy poverty in Europe, notably through an Energy Customers’ Charter; • Make energy a central part of all external EU relations; • Integrate the EU’s energy and development policies; • Commit the EU and its member states to undertaking large-scale investments in energy technology research and innovation between 2007 and 2013. • Make sure that the burden sharing within the European Union is fair, transparent, and based on proper analysis.

The Climate Change Network, which was established at the start of 2009, played an important role in developing more detailed positions on a number of climate related issues, such as strengthening renewable energy in Europe, supporting energy efficiency, transforming transport and reducing agricultural in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The social democratic and socialist environment ministers have started to prepare their common positions before Council meetings in PES preparatory meetings on a regular basis. The discussions in the Climate Change Network, in the environment ministers meeting and our close cooperation with the group allowed us to develop strong positions not only on the Copenhagen climate change negotiations, but helped us to draw up a clear vision to reform our societies and our economies to be carbon free.

6. Diversity and Integration

The PES Presidency gave the Network for Diversity and Integration the mandate to focus during one year on integration and diversity issues with respect to Muslim minorities throughout the European Union. From May 2007 until May 2008 Chair Gary Titley MEP and Vice-Chair MEP conducted five fact-finding missions and five meetings with representatives from the different member parties (see Annex). During the fact-finding missions in the , Sweden, Spain, Bulgaria and the UK, the Network discussed with national and local governmental representatives, non- governmental organisations, activists and citizens with a Muslim background on issues such as integration and citizenship, social justice and fundamental rights.

The Network focused on European Muslims, as Islam and Muslims have a greater share in the European discourse compared to earlier on. This is a natural result of an increasing participation of Muslim citizens in societies in the EU, which should be considered as a positive development. However, one cannot ignore the overall context of the debate about Islam in a society where the media frequently tie the words Muslim and extremist together. Although the Network focused on integration and diversity, it acknowledged the close link

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between integration and migration; they go hand in hand and can only result in successful policies if both are tackled well and comprehensively.

The Network acknowledged the existence of more than just one model of integration and defined integration as a process which engages all elements in society working together to build a better society rather than being a specific end point. The process is thus more important than the model. Taking this stance as a starting point, the fact-finding missions and debates organised by the Network allowed the participants to present a report to the Presidency with the aim on the one hand to encourage PES Party Members to set up similar working methods and approaches and on the other hand to feed the PES debate and text for the 2009 European Election Manifesto. The set of recommendations were grouped into two different themes;

Recommendations when shaping inclusive citizenship: They touched upon duties and rights and representation and participation of all citizens, an inclusive approach built around a political concept and a common project of the society social democrats strive for, strengthening role models and understanding politicians, the need for language skills and community participation and the urgency of clearly defining the aim and meaning of integration.

Recommendations when talking about social democratic values in a Europe with multiple diversity : They covered eleven points from community mapping, to intercultural approaches in political parties, policies and community visions, welcoming and understanding people of different cultural and religious background, adapting or re- adjusting our discourse, promoting education as a channel for integration, adopting a gender and youth approach by encouraging a dialogue with women and younger generations on this issue.

7. Europe in the world

The PES launched a large process of reflections and discussion on the EU’s role on the international scene . During Ministerial Networks (Foreign Affairs, Development, and Defence) and party members’ experts’ meetings, an intense study was led to propose new progressive policies for a stronger, more coherent and more visible EU. The process was led by the three Ministerial Coordinators (, Coordinator of the PES MFA Network, MFA, LSAP, Luxembourg; André Flahaut, Coordinator of the PES Defence Ministers and Spokespersons Network, Minister of Defence, PS, Belgium and Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Coordinator of the PES Development Ministers Network, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, SPD, Germany) and PES Presidency members (Espen Barth Eide, DNA, Norway, in charge of Foreign Affairs ; Alain Richard, PS, France, in charge of Defence ; Luciano Vecchi, DS, Italy, in charge of Development and Vice- Chair of the GPF). It was concluded by a PES report, “The EU on the International Scene. Promoting International Peace” (62 pages). The report was presented to the PES Council in Sofia, 22-23 November 2007. From this extensive report, a shorter text has been extracted in a resolution, “The EU on the International Scene. Promoting International Peace” (8 pages) adopted at the PES Council in Sofia.

The report aimed at answering the challenges faced by the European Union as a major global actor, which will be even more important in the future, in a time of geopolitical and strategic changes. Because of the EU’s economic weight, its leading role in international trade and development, the successes of its European Security and Defence Policy operations and the implication of the Lisbon Treaty, European social democrats proposed 9

new answers to new realities. Based on preventive policy, to tackle today’s difficulties and to prevent them from becoming tomorrow’s problems, we must give collective answers at a time of globally interconnected issues. With our commitment to the UN paramount, effective multilateralism must be strengthened to tackle both continuing and new threats to world and human security – including failed states, organized crime and terrorism. There is a global responsibility to reform the UN system and to change the rules of the game to initiate real global governance. Integrating the BRICs (Brazil, , India and ) and other emerging economies is an obligation for a fairer globalisation. Together, in a renewed transatlantic partnership, with other progressive forces in Latin America, and with new leaders in Africa and in Asia, we have solutions to make our world a better place for all. As social democrats, we believe that globalization must be inclusive and benefit those who are currently least able to face global challenges. We will never accept the calls for hatred, violence, humiliation or nationalism. Nor will we ever accept the global inequalities that are currently experiencing. The report contributed to several proposals in the PES Manifesto for the European elections 2009.

8. Uniting around a strong Manifesto

PES Leaders agreed in Berlin on 24 th March 2007 to launch a consultation as part of the new bottom-up process to create a PES manifesto for the European elections of June 2009. This bottom-up consultation involved member parties and member organizations as well as party members, including PES activists, party-linked foundations and experts, as well as trade unions, and NGOs. It aim was to reach out to a maximum number of people to engage them in a debate on what our priorities should be for the 2009 European elections, thereby ensuring the final manifesto effectively addressed the concerns and aspirations of Europe’s citizens and fully reflected the perspectives of the European socialist and social democratic family for the European Union’s political strategy and programme. The PES also wanted to ensure that PES member parties and member organisations – through all relevant decision-making levels – genuinely shaped and had ownership of the manifesto as well as to encourage the mobilisation of party members on European issues in view of the campaign. The PES developed a practice of democratic and participatory political debate that connected to party members, progressive organizations, activists and campaigners.

The consultation was structured around four discussion papers, each covering broad manifesto themes: New Social Europe; Save our Planet; Europe in diversity and democracy; and Europe in the world. In addition to the contributions from member parties, hundreds of online posts and written contributions were made and public debates held across Europe during the course of the nine-month consultation. PES activists have been very active in this process (See section C for detailed description of the Yoursace online debate).

The PES received written submissions from many NGOs, foundations and trade unions, who appreciated that the PES was the only European party to be holding an open consultation process. This strengthened the PES’ network in European policy communities. The participating organizations and activists in the PES consultation at European level were the following: - Trade unions: ETUC, TUC (UK) - NGOs: Action Aid, Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network, AGE-European Older People’s Platform, Amnesty International, Business Europe, Caritas Europa, European Anti Poverty Network, European Community of Consumer Cooperatives, European Federation of Journalists, European Network Against Racism, European Network on 10

Debt and Development, European Patients’ Forum, European Public Health Alliance, European Women’s Lobby, Green 10 (including Bankwatch Network, BirdLife International, Climate Action Network Europe, European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of Nature International, Greenpeace European Unit, Health and Environment Alliance, European Federation for Transport and Environment & WWF European Policy Office), Jubilee Debt Campaign, Social Platform, Solidar, the European of the International Lesbian and Gay Association. - Foundations : European Network of Social Democratic Foundations with a synthesizing document of all the members’ contributions.

The resulting PES manifesto for the 2009 European elections - “People First: A New Direction for Europe” – was the most ambitious the PES had ever adopted, containing over 70 concrete proposals for action. The PES campaigned energetically during the European elections, on the basis of the vision set out in the PES Manifesto. PES leaders came together in Toulouse on 24 th April 2009 to launch the European campaign, adopting a political declaration “People first: a New Direction for Europe”, which set out our commitments for the first hundred days following the European elections to fight the recession and mass unemployment and to ensure social security: • A new, strong recovery plan for Europe, with coordinated investments in jobs and green growth. We, the PES, have proposed a European recovery plan, which could stop mass unemployment and create a new direction. • A European Employment Pact to safeguard employment, create new and better jobs, fight mass unemployment, and strengthen workers’ rights, working conditions and equal pay. • A new Women’s Rights Charter to improve women’s right and opportunities. • A Social Progress Pact to tackle the full social consequences of the crisis, preventing a rise in poverty, inequality and exclusion. • Effective regulation and supervision of the financial markets, covering all financial actors and instruments, including hedge funds and private equity. The PES has made clear proposals on what to do to avoid devastating new financial bubbles in the future. • New mutual solidarity across European member states – between East and West, North and South – ensuring a common roadmap out of the crisis. • An urgent, common European roadmap for a global new deal, to be agreed at the before the end of 2009. This is about coordinated action for new jobs on the planet, global regulation of financial markets, a global climate deal, and aid to developing countries.

The last pre-election Presidency meeting also urged the women and men of Europe to vote in the June European elections, stating: “There is a fundamental political choice facing people in these European elections: between a progressive vision of the European Union in which people come first; or a conservative vision of the European Union in which people’s futures are left in the hands of the market.

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B. Increasing our influence with strong partnerships

1. Strengthened PES bodies

The reform of the PES structures, decided in the previous mandate has seen to be effective. The most visible change has been the organization of yearly Council meetings which have now become the regular meeting point for party members and activists who are now invited every year and participate in growing numbers. Our Leaders’ Conferences are also regular meeting points for our Prime Ministers and Leaders and have played an important role in shaping PES policy and driving the Manifesto consultation process. We have also restarted regular meetings of Prime ministers and Vice-Prime ministers before the meetings. They are now very well attended and enable stronger coordination among our governments.

PES Council The PES Council met twice since the last Congress.

The PES Council in Sofia, Bulgaria on 22 nd and 23 rd November 2007 adopted the resolution “Our Vision: The New Horizon for Europe June 2009” and topical resolutions on financial markets, climate change and Foreign policy. The Council was also presented with the report “The EU on the International Scene: Promoting International Peace”.

The PES Council in Madrid, Spain on 1st and 2 nd December adopted the Manifesto for the European elections in the presence of all PES Leaders and Prime Ministers.

Leaders’ and Prime Ministers’ Meetings Since the last Congress, the PES has held 8 Leader’s meetings:

In Berlin on 24 th March 2007 PES Leaders and Prime ministers adopted the declaration “1957 – 2007 Happy Birthday to EU! Now the New Social Europe”

In Brussels on 21 st June 2007 PES Leaders and Prime ministers adopted the PES priorities for the EU Policy Agenda 2008.

In Brussels on 19 th June 2008, PES Leaders and Prime ministers discussed the situation in Europe after the negative Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, and adopted a statement on the EU agenda.

In Brussels on 5 th November 2008, PES Leaders and Prime ministers discussed the financial crisis, its consequences on growth, employment and social policies, and the necessity to reform the financial markets. They adopted the declaration “Taking Europe out of financial and economic crisis: An Urgent European Plan for Action”

In Madrid on 30 th November 2008, PES Leaders and Prime ministers adopted a statement on the Lisbon treaty, and a declaration “For an ambitious recovery plan to safeguard employment and prevent mass unemployment” .

In Brussels on 19 th March 2009, PES Leaders and Prime ministers gathered to discuss the economic crisis and adopted a declaration on “The need for strong leadership and action to promote growth and jobs and to counteract the deepening economic crisis”.

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In Toulouse on 24 th April 2009, ahead of the launch of the PES campaign for the European elections, Heads of lists were invited to join and PES Leaders and adopted a political declaration: “People first : A New Direction for Europe”.

In Brussels on 18 th June 2009, PES Leaders gathered to evaluate the results of the European elections, and their implications for our strategy to pursue our political priorities.

In addition PES Prime Ministers met 6 times to coordinate their positions before the European Councils: In Brussels on 8 March 2007, in Lisbon on 18 October 2007, in Brussels on 13 th March 2008, on 15 th October 2008, on 29 th October 2009 and on 19 th November 2009.

Ministerial meetings The PES has organized a number of pre-Council meetings in the fields of Employment and Social Affairs, Education, Environment, Gender issues, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Development. These meetings allow for better coordination between Ministers from PES member parties and opposition spokespeople who participate in at least one meeting per year with the Ministers.

Presidency and Coordination Team The Presidency is the political leadership of the PES, providing orientation for PES policies and deciding on political activities. The Coordination team brings together international secretaries and PES staff to discuss the planning and financing of PES activities. The Presidency has met 16 times and the Coordination Team met on 14 occasions, since the last Congress.

2. Influencing European institutions

The PES bolstered its ability to shape European policy-making by strengthening cooperation within our own political family and with external actors: at the level of the European Council; in the Council of Ministers; in the European Parliament, in close cooperation with our parliamentary group; in the Committee of the regions, in close cooperation with the PES Group in the Committee of the regions; and in the wider EU and national policy communities. The PES also established close cooperation with PES governments through its sherpas network and with PES governments (including coalition governments) holding the Presidency of the EU. This influence combined presence, networking and action at key points in the political agenda. One example in the 2007-2009 period was PES work on financial market reform where the PES led the way in shaping the European political agenda across EU institutions.

3. The S&D Group in the European Parliament

Cooperation with the group in the European Parliament has continued to be very strong in this congress period at all levels. On the level of the Presidents, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and have been in constant contact about the strategic developments of our political family on European level. On the secretariat level, Philip Cordery and Anna Colombo and the respective staffs have developed strong connected working methods. Party and group are regularly participating in each other’s meetings.

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Two joint meetings of the PES Presidency and the group in the Parliament have taken place: on 4 th October 2007, to discuss priority issues for cooperation, including New Social Europe and climate change, and the Global Progressive Forum; on 2 nd September 2009, to discuss political perspective for the European Union in the next 5 year term and the nomination of the next President of the Commission.

Important changes have occurred in the group after the 2009 June European elections. Following the new political situation in Italy, whereby the Democratic Left has merged with the centrist Margherita to form a new , the Socialist group has been replaced by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D group). Martin Schulz was elected President of the group.

The activities of the Parliamentary group are presented in their own report to the Congress.

4. The PES Group in the Committee of the Regions

The cooperation with the PES group in the Committee of the Regions has been very strongly developed. Their President Mercedes Bresso have been committed to achieve this, giving to the PES work a stronger local and regional dimension. The common campaign on Childcare was a particularly fruitful cooperation. The activities of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions are described in their own report to PES Congress.

5. PES Women

PES Women brings together women - MP, MEPs and activists - from PES member parties. Zita Gurmai MEP was re-elected President of PES Women on 7 December 2006. Under her leadership, PES Women continued reinforcing on the one side its cooperation amongst its members, and on the other side its role within the PES in terms of an active and visible participation in the PES thematic (pay gap and child care campaign) and electoral campaigns as well as contributing to the European policy process.

Moreover, PES Women also reinforced its direct work with and influence on the different European Union institution in shaping European policy on gender related issues while keeping a continuous contact with the civil society and non-governmental organisations when organising meetings and conferences. To strengthen the cooperation on international level, PES Women adopted in its standing orders on 7 December 2009 the inclusion of an ex-officio status for SIW President in the PES Women Bureau structure. Besides, PES Women President participated at several GPF meetings and EU external delegations.

More detailed information on the activities of PES Women can be found in the PES Women activity report.

6. ECOSY

PES has supported ECOSY mainly through participation of high level speakers to various seminars and meetings including summer and winter universities. The activities of ECOSY are described in their own report to PES Congress. 14

7. FEPS, our newly created political foundation

European political foundations, a long time claim of the Party of European Socialists, are now a reality. The Commission first approved a pilot project to establish such foundations before the formal decision was taken by Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on 18 December 2007.

The European Foundation for Progressive studies (FEPS) was founded on 4 October 2007 as the political foundation linked to the PES. The FEPS adds value to the existing work of the PES by providing a forum for debate on European progressive ideas, organizing long-term thinking and in-depth analysis of key European policy issues.

Ernst Stetter (FES, Germany) was appointed Secretary General by the FEPS bureau on 30 January 2008. The cooperation between the PES and the FEPS has been very strong since the beginning in all policy fields and in the training of activists.

Detailed information on the development of FEPS can be found in the FEPS report of activity.

8. The Union of Socialist Local and Regional Representatives in Europe, USLRRE

The USLRRE is one of the oldest socialist organisations on the European level and an observer member of the PES. The USLRRE constitutes an efficient network which is committed to the reinforcement of local self-government and promotes the exchange of ideas, information and experiences amongst socialist local and regional representatives in Europe.

Further information of their activity can be found in their own activity report.

9. Other social-democratic organisations

The European Senior Organization (ESO) and Rainbow Rose have been particularly active in the PES these last years. Their activities are described in their own activity reports.

10. Partnerships worldwide

The Party of European Socialists is deeply involved in international cooperation and global affairs. Europe has a major role to play in the international arena and must therefore show its commitments vis-à-vis the rest of the world. The PES is committed to making this world a safer place and a place of shared prosperity, in which human rights and human dignity are at the centre of our thinking and actions. To strengthen the European Union policy and its role as a global player, the PES has organised various events and initiatives in the last years. This dynamic approach tackled a wide range of international issues.

The PES continued to organise our Networks of Ministers with International Portfolios together with Spokespersons from PES member parties. The PES Development Policy Ministers and Party Spokespersons on Development Issues is chaired by Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and 15

Development, (SPD, Germany). The PES Defence Ministers and party spokespersons network was chaired by André Flahaut, Defence Minister (PS Belgium) until June 2007. The PES Foreign Affairs Ministers Network is chaired by Jean Asselborn, Foreign Affairs Minister (LSAP Luxembourg). The different networks gathered two to three times a year.

The PES organised a seminar on “With the Lisbon Treaty, what role and mandate for the new High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission?” , 9 September 2009, in Brussels. The seminar concerned the innovations in the Lisbon Treaty, most importantly the creation of the position of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and a corresponding External Action Service (EAS). It also focused on concrete EU external action policy to develop a progressive approach to the EU’s external relations.

The scope of the “PES Working Group on Eastern European Neighbours ”, whose aim is to report to the PES Presidency on the transformation and democratisation processes and to follow the left-leaning parties in Eastern European countries was extended. From Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, it was extended to the South Caucasus with , and Georgia. Peter Schieder (SPÖ, Austria), is the Chair of the PES W/G EEN and Katrin Saks, Member of the European Parliament, SDP, Estonia was the PES Presidency member in charge. The EEN WG organized delegations to Moscow, Russia on 25-26 June 2008 and had bilateral meetings with representatives of political parties (the SI party Social-Democratic Party of Russia led by Vladimir Kishenin, the Just Russia Party led by Sergei Mironov), the Foundation of Gorbatchov, NGO’s, media, think tanks, and international organisations. The Working Group held a fact-finding mission to Kiev, Ukraine, on September 17 th -18 th 2009. The delegation, led by Peter Schieder, Chair of the PES WG Eastern European Neighbours and former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (SPÖ, Austria), met a number of representatives of Ukraine’s political Left as well as members of political forces from the wider political spectrum. Mission participants also held talks with government officials, women and youth political branches, trade unions, thinks tanks, academics and independent political experts. The visit provided a major opportunity to assess the current state of affairs of the Left in Ukraine while also contributing to a better grasp of the country’s situation in view of the upcoming Presidential elections on January 17 th , 2010.

On May 16 th 2007, the PES Balkan Conference met in Belgrade, Serbia at a time of crucial importance for the future of the host country and the Balkans at large: The deadline to form the government was the 15 th May! The PES couldn’t have been more accurate by choosing that date. Along with President of Serbia and Leader of DS, Boris Tadi ć, several Balkan leaders from were present: Edi Rama (SP Albania), Radmila Sekerinska (SDSM FYROM), Ilir Meta (Socialist Movement for Integration Albania), Ranko Krivokapic (Social Democratic Party of Montenegro), Milorad Dodik (SNSD BiH), Skender Gjinushi (SDP Albania). I also thank Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg; Ivaylo Kalfin (BSP Bulgaria), and PES Group Vice-Presidents and for their presence. A Solidarity Pact for the Western Balkans was signed to validate and formalise the social democratic commitments of all parties attending in support of the region. The PES and social democratic party leaders from the region pledged to give their full support for EU membership of all the countries of the Western Balkans – and to take concrete steps to increase regional cooperation through closer links between social democratic parties in the region. The PES took part in several events organised by the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity in the Western Balkans. Kristian Vigenin, Member of the European Parliament, BSP, Bulgaria is the PES Presidency member in charge of the Balkans.

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The PES is developing frequent contacts with the countries of the Mediterranean region, also part of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The PES reorganised itself to focus properly on the Euromed relations and nominated Piero Fassino (DS, Italy) as Chair of the PES Euro-Mediterranean Relations Working Group. It will coordinate PES on: Euro- Mediterranean relations – with Presidency member from LP, Malta; Middle East – with Presidency member Carin Jamtin from SAP, Sweden; and Turkey – with Presidency member Achim Post from SPD, Germany.

The PES High Level Advisory Group on Turkey, Chair and Vice-Chair (SDP, Finland) and Georgios Papandreou (Pasok, Greece) sent a Fact-finding mission to Ankara – Istanbul on 17-18 October 2008 to provide information on the situation in Turkey. The representatives of the HLAG met a wide range of political figures from the government and from opposition as well as NGOs and trade unions.

The PES organised a delegation to give its support to the relaunched peace talks in led by Luciano Vecchi, PES Presidency member (DP, Italy) to the island on 6-7 November 2008. The delegation met leaders and governmental officials from both sides in order to better understand the situation. The PES delegation conveyed a strong message of support for the reunification of the island and a peace agreement.

The Middle East is always an important issue of the PES agenda. A PES Fact-finding mission led by Carin Jämtin, PES Presidency Member responsible for the Middle East, and Luciano Vecchi, PES Presidency Member responsible for Development policy, visited , Palestine and Lebanon on 1-4 November 2007. The study visit had the objective of preparing future cooperation and bilateral relations with SI member parties in the region, that is, , the Labor Party, Yahad/ and PSP and was a follow up to the PES Fatah seminar held in April 2007. Members of the delegation held intense discussions with a whole range of high level representatives. In Israel, the delegation had meetings with LP Knesset members Colette Avital and Ephraim Sneh, Yahad-Meretz Leader Yossi Beilin and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv Yael Dayan. In Palestine, the delegation met former Palestinian Prime Minister and Chief negotiator for the Annapolis conference Ahmed Korei and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council in addition to Qadoura Faris, PLC member, and Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. EU special envoy for the Middle East peace process Marc Otte was one of the interlocutors on the Annapolis international conference. In Lebanon, the delegation met PSP Leader Walid Jumblatt, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, UNIFIL officials, the Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir and representatives of the Amal movement.

A PES-Fatah seminar was organised on April 11 th 2007. The PES received a large, high- level delegation composed of Palestinian Legislative Council Members and Spokespersons from the Fatah in a bid to support the development of the party into a more modern political force playing a renewed role in the peace process and in the establishment of a properly functioning Palestinian Authority. The meeting chaired by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President and Piero Fassino, Leader of DS Italy and Chair of the SI Middle East Committee and , International Secretary of SAP examined the strategies to revitalise the EU relations with the Palestinian Authorities (national unity government, TIM, …) and to accelerate the EU contribution to the peace process. On the other hand, the debate examined the internal situation within Fatah and considered how to support the modernisation and preparation of the party for future challenges. The PES is grateful to the Olof Palme Foundations (OPC) and the Foundation Jean Jaures (FJJ), who made this event possible.

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The PES organised a Fact-finding mission led by Philip Cordery, PES Secretary General, to Lebanon on 24-25 April 2008. The delegation met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora; Nabih Berry, Speaker of the Parliament; the Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir and with Walid Joumblatt, Leader of the PSP, MP.

The PES organised other events, such as a bilateral meeting with the SI member parties of the Maghreb region in Geneva on 29 June 2009 leading to a conference organised by the Foundation Jean Jaures (FJJ) on 18 June 2008 in Paris.

The PES dialogue with the US Democrats and the Transatlantic partnership was a priority over the last years. Delegations, meetings and exchanges of information were held on a regular basis. After the victory in the Congress, where the Democrats won the double majority, a PES Delegation, led by PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, discovered the new mood in Washington D.C., on 15-18 April 2007. It had meetings with Governor Howard Dean, Chair of the DLC; Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the Committee on Financial Services; Senator Bernie Sanders and with Senator Ben Cardin; John Podesta, CEO of the Center for American Progress, Former Chief of staff of President Clinton; John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO and Andy Stern, Chair of Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The underlying motive of the delegation was reiterated with the need for US and EU progressive forces to actively prepare for the post-Bush EU-US relations. A PES Delegation with PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen; Par Nüder, MP, former Finance Minister, SAP, Sweden and Geir Axelsen, Vice Finance Minister, DNA, Norway visited New York and Washington D.C., on 4-8 February 2008, to meet with Congress members (Barney Frank, Chair of the House Committee on Financial Services and George Miller, Chair of the house, education and labour committee) and well known economists such as Joseph Stiglitz, Economy Nobel Prize, to discuss about Financial markets reform. The PES attended the US Democrats’ Convention, in Denver, 23-25 August 2008, leading to the nomination of Senator Barack Obama as official candidate for the Presidential election. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Philip Cordery, PES Secretary General attended the 4 th Clinton Global Initiative and the SI Presidium in New York, 23-27 September 2008. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen had meetings in California, 26-30 October 2008 to meet with Congresswoman Woolsey Lynn and Economists from the University of California, Berkeley and . PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen visited New York and Washington on 10-16 November 2008 to meet with Dominique Strauss Kahn, Director General of IMF; Paul Volcker, Chairman of the Federal Reserve; Joseph Stiglitz, Co-President IPD; Barney Frank, US House of Representatives; Chair-House Financial Services Committee and many other people. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen attended Inauguration Day, on 20 January 2009 in Washington D.C., with the Oaths of Office to President-elect Barack H. Obama and to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Philip Cordery, PES Secretary General attended the 5 th Clinton Global Initiative and the SI Presidium in New York, 21-24 September 2008. In the meantime, the delegation attended Pittsburgh for the G20 preparation with the ITUC leadership and met the new President of AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka.

The PES Presidency decided to initiate a relationship with progressives in Japan , in view of the coming general elections in 2009. Since Japan is a relevant international player with democratic institutions and the 2 nd largest economy in the world, the EU should build up a stronger relationship with Japan, with whom we share many strategic interests. The PES delegation to Japan was led by Alain Richard, former Minister for Defense, Member of the PES Presidency, PS, France, and visited Tokyo, Hiroshima and Okinawa on 12-17 May 2008. It had meetings with the Social-Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ - SI member), the 18

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), RENGO (main Japanese Trade Union), the EC Delegation, several NGOs and personalities, and US Army officials to discuss issues such as Financial Markets, Decent Work and International Trade, and Global Security.

The PES critical dialogue with China was pursued. A PES High Level Delegation chaired by President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and mandated by the PES Group visited China (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong) on July 2 nd -7th 2007. The high level delegation included Piero Fassino, Secretary General of DS Italy, Mircea Dan Geoana, Chairman of PSD Romania, Wojciech Olejniczak, Chairman of SLD Poland, László Kapolyi, Chairman of MSZDP Hungary, members of the European Parliament Alexandra Dobolyi, Andrzej Jan Szejna and Glyn Ford, Swedish Member of Parliament Thomas Ostros. Scheduled meetings with top party and government officials, trade unionists and think tanks took place in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. In mainland China, the PES Delegation had high level contacts with government, trade unions, academics and NGOs. The meeting with Secretary General and President Hu Jintao represented the peak of a visit characterised by intense and constructive exchanges of the highest political level. In Hong Kong, the delegation met with representatives of the HK Administration and with opposition parties. For the first time, the PES sent a delegation composed by young members of party leadership, Members of Parliament and from the European Parliament led by Philip Cordery, PES Secretary General, on 4-12 December 2008. The delegation had high-level meetings in Beijing and visited Shanghai and Nanchang. An IDCPC-PES seminar on “Harmonious World and Global Governance” was organised on 18-19 September 2008 in Beijing (Delegation Chaired by Alain Richard, former Minister for Defense, Member of the PES Presidency, PS, France) and a second one, “The International Financial Crisis and its Consequences” was held on 21-25 September 2009 in Beijing (Delegation Chaired by Adrian Severin, Member of the PES Presidency, Vice- President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, PSD, Romania).

The PES supports a strengthened cooperation with the Socialist International in order to level up the influence our social democrats around the world. In that framework, the President and the Secretary General participated in the various Council meetings of the SI and seeks regular coordination between the two organisations.

11. The Global Progressive Forum (GPF)

The PES and the Socialist group in the European Parliament continued their strong involvement in the Global Progressive Forum (GPF). As a joint initiative, in cooperation with Socialist International, the GPF aims at creating a space for cooperation and dialogue on globalisation between progressive politicians, NGOs and trade unions.

The World Conferences have given visibility to the GPF on the international scene. After the 1 st World Conference in Brussels in November 2003 and the 2nd held in Milano in September 2005, the 3rd World Conference organized by the Global Progressive Forum took place on 2-3 April 2009 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Conference was opened by President Bill Clinton and welcomed prominent speakers such as Howard Dean, Juan Somavia, Pascal Lamy, Antonio Guterres, Vandana Shiva, Guy Rider, Susan George, Salima Ghezali, Aminata Traoré, Moema Miranda, Lionel Jospin, John Monks, Chico Whitaker, Alpha Conde and many other speakers and more than 2.200 participants. Several workshops addressed ongoing issues such as Tackling Climate Change, the Energy Crisis, the Food Crisis, the Financial Markets Crisis, Trade and Decent Work, Globalisation and Migration, Women and Globalisation, A New Global Governance, Peace and Globalisation, and Africa for the 21 st century. A declaration, “Time for a Global New 19

Deal”, was adopted and a signature process on a big globe was organised in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament.

The GPF continued to organise biannual Geneva Group meetings with High Representatives of International Institutions, Trade Unions leaders, NGOs and progressive politicians. This group has initiated the GPF Vision Paper “A Global New Deal ”, to be presented at the PES Congress 2009. A collection of essays directed by Fontelles, “Dilemmas in Globalization. Exploring global trends and progressive solutions”, was published in April 2009.

The GPF organised a series of international seminars (“IUSY 100 Berlin”, in Berlin 23-26 August 2007; “EPAs - Instruments for economic and political development?” in the European Parliament in Brussels, on 30 June 2008; "Globalització, crisis i respostes" in , on 10 July 2008 ; At the 9 th ECOSY Summer Camp in Carpentras, France On 25 th – 31 st July 2008).

In January 2007 the “Decent Work Decent Life” campaign was launched by the Global Progressive Forum (GPF), the ITUC, the ETUC, SOLIDAR and Social Alert International. In November 2007, the campaign then launched a Call to Action at an event in Lisbon held on the occasion of the ILO Forum on Decent Work for a Fair Globalisation. The purpose of the Call to Action was to mobilise support from citizens in calling on governments and global leaders to implement policies at both the national and international levels that are conducive to the attainment of full and productive employment and decent work for all. On 7 th October 2008 and 2009, the International Day of Decent Work, the GPF organised events to promote the Decent Work Agenda.

The GPF initiated a campaign, “Europeans for Financial reform” (EFFR), on 21 st September 2009. The co-founders of the campaign are ITUC, TUAC, ETUC, UNI, PES, S&D Group, Solidar, FEPS and GPYF. EFFR works hands in hands with the ‘Americans for Financial Reform’ coalition, which is an unprecedented group of national and state organizations that have joined together to fix the US financial sector and make sure it’s working for all Americans. A “Call to Action” was finalised for large popular mobilisation.

The Global Progressive Forum participated to the World Social Forum Nairobi 2007 and Belem 2009 and organised joint conferences on the Decent Work with Solidar, the ICFTU, the WCL (ITUC after the merging). The GPF was also involved in the European Social Forum of in Malmö 2008. The GPF is a member of the International Council of the WSF.

A new GPF website - www.globalprogressiveforum.org – was presented in the run up to the 3rd World Conference.

In terms of Organisation, Josep Borrell Fontelles, former president of the European Parliament and Chair of the Development Committee in the European Parliament, was the Chair of the GPF from 2007 until the European Elections 2009. On 2 nd September 2009, the PES Presidency appointed two Co-Chairs to the GPF Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President and Martin Schulz, S&D Group in the European Parliament President. A GPF Secretary General was designated, Javier Moreno Sánchez, member of the PSOE, Spain, and former Member of the European Parliament. It is very good news and signals a reinforcement of the GPF, with more staff from the PES and the S&D Group involved.

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C. Increasing our visibility

1. The PES president & other PES representatives

The PES President played a leading role in consolidating the PES’ political agenda, raising PES influence and visibility. The PES President personally initiated and led PES work on financial market reform and then, subsequent the onset of market turmoil, on the financial and economic crisis. The PES President visited almost all 27 Member States for political visits during 2007-2009. The European election campaign was another intense period of political activity during which the PES President campaigned across Europe with our member parties.

PES Secretary General, PES Women President and other Presidency members have also represented the PES in many events organized by national parties, including national congresses, conference and seminars, especially in the run up to the European elections. Their participation in these events ensured that the voice of the PES is widely heard in national arenas.

Giving a new direction to Europe is about winning the European elections but it is also about getting a new majority in the European Council. National elections are therefore nowadays important for all EU citizens. This is why the PES has increased its activity around national elections, giving the national parties the support they require. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES Secretary General Philip Cordery and PES Women President Zita Gurmai have participated in many campaign events. PES Activists were also increasingly active through campaign exchanges.

2. PES activists

PES activists and PES party life : Since the end of 2006 the number of PES activists has grown from 3.000 to 20.000 and the activists have become a lively grassroots of the PES. Individual members of PES member parties can join PES activists and in some PES parties there are high numbers of activists: 4500 PES activists within the French PS, 1000 in the Spanish PSOE and the Romanian PSDE and 800 activists in the Belgian sp.a represent a formidable force. PES activists are from all age groups, from young socialists to seniors.

PES activists have the opportunity of being involved in the life of the PES and to be in contact with each other. PES activists was launched as a virtual network to connect PES activists all over Europe with internet tools. Since 2007 the approach was widened with on-the-ground activities. Today PES activists exchange their views through online social networks, in PES activities and they meet in PES activist city groups. PES activists see European democracy as the 4 th house of European democracy. It complements their political interest on local, regional and national issues.

PES activists and the PES manifesto consultation : PES activists were invited to take part in the 2008 PES manifesto consultation. Their involvement – the consultation website had over 300,000 visits and over 600 written contributions and more than 30 PES activists group sent their written statements – helped the PES parties to take ownership of a common PES manifesto.

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PES activists in PES events: PES activists attended the PES Council 2007 in Sofia and the 2008 Council in Madrid as individual guests. In July 2008 the PES held the first PES activists Forum in Vienna. More than 250 participants from all over Europe participated in debates that fed into manifesto consultation. In September 2009 more than 300 PES activists met in Dublin to attend the PES activists Forum 2009. The Forum provided a platform for grassroots to share their views on the renewal of social democracy and on the socialist agenda in Europe.

A number of PES parties have organised gatherings and campaign exchanges for PES activists from all over Europe. The Romanian PSD held a Forum for PES activists in 2007. The Spanish PSOE invited PES activists to the 2008 national and the 2009 EU election campaign in Madrid. Other campaign exchanges were organised by the PS Belgium, the Irish Labour Party, the UK Labour Party, the Romanian PSD, PS France and PS Portugal. The Socialist Group in the European Parliament invited PES activists to four conferences in Brussels. And many hundred PES activists came to the Global Progressive Forum 2009 world conference.

PES activists’ city groups: Since 2007 more and more activists organised activities on the ground such as meetings and debates. Many members of PES parties used PES material and news for their local party work. Some PES member parties – like SAP Sweden, PS France, PSD Romania, SD , PS Italy and PSOE Spain – invited their members to set-up local PES activists groups or established national networks. In addition some local or regional branches of PES parties encouraged their PES activists to meet regularly.

The PES secretariat supported these activities by setting up an informal network of PES activists’ city groups. Groups in more than 80 European towns, cities and regions are participating in this network. Powerhouses are France with more than 25 PES activist city groups, Romania with more than 20 groups and Sweden with 7 local groups.

PES activists campaigning: PES activists have promoted PES campaigns in PES parties such as the “Child Care Campaign” and “Gender Pay Gap, Shut It!” and they organised local meetings around them. During the 2009 election campaign PES activists campaigned enthusiastically for the socialist EP candidates. During the European Days of Action PES activists were involved in 220 events across Europe: street theatre and campaigning, leafleting, debates, rallies, picnics, and workshops.

3. PES campaigns

Between 2006 and 2009, the PES conducted 3 European-wide campaigns: Child care, Gender pay gap, and last but not least, the 2009 European election campaign.

The PES launched its Child Care campaign at its Congress in Porto in December 2006 with Portuguese PM José Socrates. It was closed at PES Council in Sofia on 22 November 2007. The Campaign results and recommendations were presented to Vladimir Spidla on 11 December 2007. The campaign led to new commitments on child care services from Governments, PES member parties and the European Commission. To promote this campaign, the PES produced a movie, posters, books and dedicated a part of its website to it.(http://www.pes.org/en/news/closing-child- care-campaign-almost-year-road )

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Gender Pay Gap, Shut It! On 22 nd February 2007, PES Women held a day of action on equal pay for women and men. The PES produced strong and very successful visuals for this day of action and dedicated a section of its website to it. (http://www.pes.org/en/you- pes/campaigns/gender-pay-gap )

2009 European election campaign.

The starting point of the election campaign was the PES manifesto . Created through a year-long consultation with member parties, activists, NGOs and trade unions, by July 2008 500 written contributions had been submitted and there had been over 300,000 visits to the ‘Yourspace’ manifesto consultation website.

A decentralized strategy. A central objective of the 2009 campaign was to reach out through a decentralized, not Brussels-centered, strategy. This was reflected in the choice of Madrid to adopt the manifesto, in that of Toulouse to organise our campaign-launch and developed through five ‘European Days of Action’ for PES parties to campaign on the same issue on the same day, adding value to national campaigns by introducing a pan- European dimension. The European Days of Action involved over 220 events across Europe: street theatre and campaigning, leafleting, debates, rallies, picnics, and workshops, involving PES leaders, MEPs, candidates, Prime Ministers and Party Leaders and above all grassroots activists. PES activists played a central role, organizing events and supporting national parties. The PES website provided live coverage of events, with live reports, blogging, twitter feeds, photos and video streaming, creating instant documentation of proceedings. The Days of Action coincided with campaign exchanges , in which member parties invited activists from other parts of the EU to join them to campaign together. The PES supported host parties in promoting the exchanges, in registering and choosing the activists taking part. Almost 100 activists participated in exchanges, that took place in London, Madrid, Romania, Lille, Angers and Clermont.

Promotion of the PES manifesto. The PES worked to promote our joint manifesto. It was translated into 20 languages , and talking versions for the blind were recorded in nine languages. The PES produced a manifesto film , released in February 2009 and played at many events across Europe. The manifesto was also at the heart of the party’s visual identity: the PES cube , with the manifesto title ‘People first, a new direction for Europe’ was an innovative visual campaign tool. Hundreds of photos were taken of PES party members with the cube. These featured in the print version of the manifesto. Several PES member parties used the cube for their campaign, manifestos and meetings giving a message of political coherence and unity. To show that the PES manifesto reached every corner of Europe, a photo competition was organized, for the best snaps of the cube at local landmarks. Some 120 photos were submitted, showing the cube in many different locations.

PES website. The PES also led the way in using the Internet. Relaunched in February, the PES website included a new campaign site with a much-visited campaign blog allowing activists to publish reports, articles, live blogs and discuss the elections. Around 200 posts were published over just four months. The site also gave access to campaign material , the many language versions of the manifesto, a discussion forum , candidates and, on the extranet , lists of PES speakers, support for targeting expatriate votes and extensive political information and briefings. One innovative element was the Progressive Channel , a hub for PES interactive web presence including PES and activist videos, PES activists pages, social networks (Facebook, MySpace and Flickr) and the PES twitter feed. This took us far beyond the one-dimensional presence of our European political

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opponents. PES president and PES Women president had their own blogs during the campaign, with their comments and news often picked up by new and traditional media.

Informing and analysing. A central pillar of the campaign was the provision of detailed and up-to-date political information and analysis to member parties, MEPs and candidates. Extensive briefing documents were produced, including details of PES achievements over the last mandate, opposition parties, Euro-sceptics, the Lisbon Treaty, and a critique of the EPP manifesto. This was supplemented by country fact files made available on the PES extranet, and a weekly campaign brief containing campaign updates, EU political news, Member State news and updates from the country watch and opposition watch teams. The PES also provided rapid response answers to questions on the PES, and held meetings with stakeholder groups to inform trade unions and NGOs about PES policies.

PES in the news. The PES enjoyed high visibility in the European media: highlights included PES events such as the Madrid Council, the PES leaders’ meeting in March, the campaign launch in Toulouse as well as the PES policy initiatives such as EU financial market regulation. PES president published many articles in the press and gave many interviews. Key PES press releases were sent to member parties in advance. The PES achieved a significantly higher media profile than its European rivals. (http://elections2009.pes.org )

4. PES website & other communication tools

PES website keeps on growing, in size and in number of visitors. On a monthly average, PES website gets more than 100,000 visits. Next to www.pes.org , we have developed Yourspace for our manifesto consultation, which has been replaced by our 2009 European election campaign website.

Yourspace: a successful online consultation (October 2007-July 2008) . By launching an online consultation on its manifesto for the 2009 European elections, the PES has taken the lead in Internet politics at European level. According to the Economic and Social Science Department of the University of Macedonia (Greece) and the Danish Technological Institute, the PES is the only European party that has fully embraced web 2.0. The online consultation has helped strengthen the image of the PES by being the party that listens and engages. Moreover, the PES activists have become facilitators and multipliers. As a result, the PES is now a leader in Internet politics at European level.

Yourspace in figures: 300,000 visitors; 3,000 new activists in 9 months; 1,350 members in our Facebook group; 500 posts on our blog, of which 60% written by users; 100 videos, of which 50% posted by users on our dedicated YouTube channel.

2009 European election campaign website. The campaign website has been the main feature of the new PES website (www.pes.org ) that was launched in February 2009. The PES website has become even more interactive, mainly thanks to its Progressive Channel. We developed and diversified the use of web 2.0 tools (7 video channels, of which PES Report -a weekly update on the campaign-, twitter, facebook, Google maps, etc).

The PES website has increased its position as a hub , based on a blog, a forum and an aggregator, where candidates, activists and party members were able to interact and find all the information they needed to campaign. The strategy was to push the PES website 24

as an aggregator - a place that collects and automatically distributes, RSS powered where possible, user-friendly templates, upload and download facilities, and also national level news, events, best practices, sharing campaign material, activists’ events, activities, etc - and pull it as a mobilizer - the aims were to harness the meet up phenomenon; create a platform that provides the means and ends to meet and organize, campaign material, integration of campaigns: community tools (event organization and location, profile building).

Publications: Between 2007 and 2009, the PES has published a number of books: the New Social Europe Report, The EU on the International Scene, Europe Through Women’s Eyes, and last but not least: the PES Manifesto for the 2009 European elections. The PES also published information leaflets about: Put Children First (Child Care campaign), Hedge Funds and Private Equity, Ten Principles for our Common Future.

Goodies: a broad range of promotional material has been produced since 2007: balloons, pens, flags, badges, T-shirts, magnets, posters, stickers, umbrellas, notepads, etc. These goodies were distributed at party congresses, conferences and other events and also to PES activists for their own meetings, demonstrations, etc.

5. Increasing media work

The PES enjoyed high visibility in the European media over the past 3 years, and especially during the 2009 election campaign. PES activities, in and outside Brussels, have generated considerable media interest and coverage. The PES is better known to EU correspondents based in Brussels and the President’s statements and press activities invariably receive media coverage. There is a steady flow of requests for interviews and other features, and a number of opinion articles published by the President, often co- signed by PES member party senior politicians. Opinion articles, interviews and letters have appeared in Le Monde, Libération, le Figaro, Handelsblatt, La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore, Diario Economico, Svenska Dagbaldet, Sydsvenskan, De Tijd, Ehnos Tis Kiriakis, Nepszava, European Voice, The Economist, The Guardian, The Financial Times, the FT Deutschland, the Irish Times to name a few.

6. Strengthening the legal and administrative structure

Progress has been made with the adoption of a revised statute on European political parties adopted by a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on 18 December 2007. This has had three major implications: the creation of European political foundations, the possibility to make financial reserves and therefore better manage the finances over the legislative period and the possibility for European parties to participate as such in the European election campaign. These are very important progresses for European political parties, made possible thanks to the engagement of, among others, Jo Leinen, Chair of the Constitutional Committee of the European Parliament and Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the Commission in charge of this issue.

Regarding the PES, a new set of statutes was adopted at the 7th Congress in Porto, creating an international non for profit association (aisbl) and implementing the PES reforms adopted by the 2005 Vienna Council.

In terms of new membership s, the PES presidency has granted provisional full membership to one party, SMER from Slovakia (on 14 February 2008), thus putting an end to the suspension decided by the Presidency in 2006, and one organisation, the PES 25

linked political foundation FEPS (on 16 October 2008). The Porto Congress also welcomed one Associate member party, the Democratic Society Party of Turkey, two observer member parties, Democratic Party of Serbia and the Social-democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one observer organisation, Rainbow Rose, the LGTB network in the PES.

The PES staff has grown to reach 21 people, including the Secretary General, 4 heads of units, 6 advisers, 6 assistants and 3 secretaries and a part-time accountant. We also employ interns for 5 month periods. The staff is extremely dedicated and motivated and has put a lot of effort to make this report a reality, particularly during the European election campaign. Without their commitment, all this would not be possible. We want to thank them for this.

ALL DOCUMENTS CAN BE FOUND ON www.pes.org

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ANNEX: List of PES Activities ACTIVITY DATE LOCATION

Co-ordination Team 21.02.2007 Brussels

Employment and Social Affairs Ministers 22.02.2007 Brussels

PES Women Statutory 22.02.2007 Brussels

Finance Ministers 26.02.2007 Brussels

Presidency 28.02.2007 Brussels

Launch Social Europe report 28.02.2007 Brussels

Defence Ministers 01.03.2007 Wiesbaden, Germany

Prime Ministers 08.03.2007 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 08.03.2007 Brussels

Childcare 14.03.2007 Strasbourg, France

Climate Change Network 23.03.2007 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 24.03.2007 Berlin, Germany

PES-Fatah Seminar 11.04.2007 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 26.04.2007 Brussels

Communicators’ Seminar 27.04.2007 Brussels

Presidency 03.05.2007 Brussels

Putting Children First, with PES group CoR 08.05.2007 Brussels

Development Ministers 15.05.2007 Brussels

Education Ministers 25.05.2007 Brussels

Employment and Social Affairs Ministers 30.05.2007 Brussels

G8 Press Event 04.06.2007 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 07.06.2007 Brussels

PES Women Statutory 12.06.2007 Berlin, Germany

Childcare Seminar 12.06.2007 Berlin, Germany

Presidency 14.06.2007 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 21.06.2007 Brussels

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Lisbon Network 26.06.2007 Brussels

Diversity and Integration Network 02.07.2007 Brussels

Fact Finding mission of the Diversity and Integration Network 05.07.2007 Den Haag, NL

Diversity and Integration Network 31.08.2007 Den Haag, NL

Environment Ministers 31.08.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon Network 18.09.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Co-ordination Team 27.09.2007 Brussels

Policy Paper 03.10.2007 Brussels

PES Women Annual Conference 03.10.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Ministerial Meeting Gender Issues 03.10.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Presidency 04.10.2007 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 12.10.2007 Brussels

Foreign Affairs Ministers 14.10.2007 Luxembourg

Fact Finding mission of the Diversity and Integration Network 12.10.2007 Stockholm, Sweden

Diversity and Integration Network 17.10.2007 Brussels

Prime Ministers 18.10.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Sherpas Meeting 18.10.2007 Lisbon, Portugal

Fact Finding mission of the Diversity and Integration Network 06.11.2007 Madrid, Spain

PES Women Executive 07.11.2007 Madrid, Spain

Co-ordination Team 08.11.2007 Brussels

Defence Ministers 19.11.2007 Brussels

Development Ministers 20.11.2007 Brussels

Fact Finding mission of the Diversity and Integration Network 21.11.2007 Sofia, Bulgaria

Presidency 21.11.2007 Sofia, Bulgaria

Council 22-23.11.2007 Sofia, Bulgaria

Employment and Social Affairs Ministers 05.12.2007 Brussels

Foreign Affairs Ministers 09.12.2007 Brussels

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Environment Ministers 20.12.2007 Brussels

PES Women Executive 22.01.2008 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 23.01.2008 Brussels

Fact Finding mission of the Diversity and Integration Network 28.01.2008 London, UK

Gender Issues 31.01.2008 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Co-ordination Team 07.02.2008 Brussels

Diversity and Integration Network 14.02.2008 Brussels

Presidency 14.02.2008 Brussels

PES Women Statutory 28.02.2008 Brussels

Lisbon Network 28.02.2008 Brussels

Employment and Social Affairs Ministers 29.02.2008 Brussels

Prime Ministers 13.03.2008 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 13.03.2008 Brussels

Elections Seminar 02-03.04.2008 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 03.04.2008 Brussels

Diversity and Integration Network 09-10-04.2008 Brussels

Presidency 10.04.2008 Brussels

Delegation to Japan 10-17.05.2008 Japan

PES Women Statutory 16.05.2008 Lubljana, Slovenia

Save our Planet Seminar 23.05.2008 Stockholm, Sweden

Diversity and Integration Network 26.05.2008 Brussels

Development Ministers 27.05.2008 Brussels

Meeting with CPC, China 04.06.2009 Brussels

Employment and Social Affairs 09.06.2008 Luxembourg

Co-ordination Team 12.06.2008 Brussels

Campaign Seminar 13.06.2008 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 19.06.2008 Brussels

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Financial Markets Network 23.06.2008 Brussels

Working Group Eastern European Neighbours 24-26.06.2008 Moscow, Russia

Presidency 25.06.2008 Brussels

PES Women Executive 26.06.2008 Brussels

Activists Forum 04-06.07.2008 Vienna, Austria

Foreign Affairs Ministers 21.07.2008 Brussels

PES Women Executive 09.09.2008 Brussels

Financial Markets Network Preparation group 16.09.2008 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 03.10.2008 Brussels

Geneva Group 08.10.2008 Geneva, Switzerland

Co-ordination Team 09.10.2008 Brussels

Communicators Seminar 10.10.2008 Brussels

PES Women Statutory 10.10.2008 Paris, France

Prime Ministers 15.10.2008 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 15.10.2008 Brussels

Presidency 16.10.2008 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 05.11.2008 Brussels

Development Ministers 11.11.2008 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 13.11.2008 Brussels

Presidency 25.11.2008 Brussels

PES Women Annual Conference 29.11.2009 Madrid, Spain

Presidency 30.11.2008 Madrid, Spain

Leaders’ Conference 30.11.2008 Madrid, Spain

Council 01-02.12.2008 Madrid, Spain

Delegation to China 04-12.12.2008 China

Foreign Affairs Ministers 11.12.2008 Brussels

Election Campaigning 11.12.2008 Brussels

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PES Women Executive 27.01.2009 Brussels

Campaigning Seminar 30.01.2009 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 05.02.2009 Brussels

Presidency 12.02.2009 Brussels

PES Women Statutory 19.02.2009 Brussels

Election Seminar 27.02.2009 Brussels

Financial Markets Network 04.03.2009 Brussels

Campaign Seminar 05.03.2009 Brussels

European day of action on Gender equality 07-08.03.2009 All over EU

Employment and Social Affairs Ministers 09.03.2009 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 19.03.2009 Brussels

Campaign Seminar 19.03.2009 Brussels

GPF Bi-annual Conference 02-03.04.2009 Brussels

Climate and Energy Network 16.04.2009 Brussels

Co-ordination team 16.04.2009 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 24.04.2009 Toulouse, France

Campaign Launch 24.04.2009 Toulouse, France

Financial Markets Network 28.04.2009 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 30.04.2009 Brussels

Employment and Social Affairs Sherpas 04.05.2009 Brussels

Presidency 08.05.2009 Brussels

European day of action on New Social Europe 09.05.2009 All over EU

European day of action on Climate change 16.05.2009 All over EU

Development Ministers 19.05.2009 Brussels

European day of action on re-launching the economy 23.05.2009 All over EU

European day of action “People first: A new direction for Europe” 30.05.2009 All over EU

Electoral Night 07.06.2009 Brussels

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Presidency 12.06.2009 Brussels

PES Women Executive 17.06.2009 Brussels

Leaders’ Conference 18.06.2009 Brussels

Environment Ministers 25.06.2009 Luxembourg

Presidency 02.09.2009 Brussels

Sherpas Meeting 07.09.2009 Brussels

Lisbon Treaty Seminar 09.09.2009 Brussels

Activists Forum 11-13.09.2009 Dublin, Ireland

PES Women Statutory 23.09.2009 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 01.10.2009 Brussels

Presidency 08.10.2009 Brussels

Financial and Economic Network 13.10.2009 Brussels

Social Europe Network 15.10.2009 Brussels

Environment Ministers 21.10.2009 Luxembourg

Prime Ministers 29.10.2009 Brussels

PES Women Executive 03.11.2009 Brussels

Climate and Energy Network 10.11.2009 Brussels

Co-ordination Team 12.11.2009 Brussels

Development Ministers 16.11.2009 Brussels

Defence Ministers 17.11.2009 Brussels

Presidency 19.11.2009 Brussels

Prime Ministers 19.11.2009 Brussels

PES Women Congress 05-06.12.2009 Prague, Czech Republic

Presidency 06.12.2009 Prague, Czech Republic

Leaders’ Conference 06.12.2009 Prague, Czech Republic

Congress 07-08.12.2009 Prague, Czech Republic

Presidency 08.12.2009 Prague, Czech Republic

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